Ellis City Lake
Ellis County, KansasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Limited data
Ellis City Lake in Ellis County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 800 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 250 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 800 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 250 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Ellis City Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ellis City Lake in Ellis County, Kansas — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Ellis City Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Ellis City Lake
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Watch Ellis City Lake’s letter
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Ellis City Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Ellis County, Kansas. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2018. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2018-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Ellis City Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 800 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 250 µg/L. TSI 89. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 800 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 250 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 89 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Fishing Ellis City Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -47.26 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ellis City Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KS-LM069601 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Ellis County
Nearby Lakes in Ellis County
Frequently asked questions about Ellis City Lake
Where is Ellis City Lake?
- Ellis City Lake is a lake in Ellis County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ellis City Lake?
- Ellis City Lake in Ellis County, Kansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 800 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 250 µg/L.
Is Ellis City Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Ellis City Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Ellis City Lake across LakeQuality
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Kansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX6 samples · 2013–2018
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database